A backup plan to impose border checks on trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK at ports and airports to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland after Brexit has been drafted by senior civil servants. She has also adamantly ruled out the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland. Quick guide What are the UK government's EU customs proposals? Other MPs regard it as the only way of successfully avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland. They argue that "unobtrusive" checks a few miles from the Northern Irish border would not breach the government’s pledge to avoid a hard border.

Source: The Guardian May 04, 2018 16:12 UTC